NCC Q30 - What is Faith in Jesus Christ?

Wow...talk about a loaded question. But this question is the single most important question an individual can ever answer correctly. If answered wrongly...you face an eternity of sorrow and grief.But the answers vary today as greatly as the faces of the people giving them. Of course, outside the church that is to be expected. But the problem is that it's also true that within the church you can get any number of answers to this question."Faith in Jesus is 'believing' in Jesus." "Faith in Jesus is to 'trust' Jesus." "Faith in Jesus is to 'follow' Him." "Faith in Jesus is to 'obey' Him."All of these answers are true...and good. But none of these is satisfactory in and of themselves. However, the common link, the one common truth that is found in all of them but not stated clearly in any of them is that faith in Jesus means a man must deny himself...die to himself (which includes dreams, plans, shame, pride, and all else of the self life) and put total and complete trust, belief, and pursue with a whole heart, a life of obedient consecration to the Son of God.The man or woman who does this, rests from his or her own labors; works of goodness trying to please God, and has come to the conclusion as did Paul, that "nothing good dwells in me". To have faith in Jesus Christ is to say, "I can't save myself...I've tried and miserably failed. I need a Savior." It is also to say, "Just as I can't save myself, I can't heal myself, and I can't change myself. I need a healer and a Comforter greater than myself."Ultimately to have faith in Jesus Christ is to become completely and utterly dependent on Him for all of life...even it's very breath...every...single...moment...of...every...single...day.Some would say Christianity is just a crutch. No it's much more than that. It's the dead man who had no prospect of anything ever again....being given new life...in spite of his very great deadness.